A polymer matrix composite comprising a porous polymeric network; and a plurality of indicator particles distributed within the polymeric network structure; wherein the indicator particles are present in a range from 1 to 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of the indicator particles and the polymer (excluding the solvent); and wherein the polymer matrix composite has a density of at least 0.05 g/cm.sup.3; and methods for making the same. The polymer matrix composites are useful, for example, as sensors.

An analyte indicator may include a porous base and may be included in an analyte sensor. The analyte indicator may retain its physical, chemical, and optical properties in the presence of compression. The porous base may not vary in opacity. The analyte indicator may include (i) a polymer unit attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) an analyte sensing element attached to the polymer unit or copolymerized with the polymer unit. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator molecule. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator polymer chains. The analyte indicator may include (i) an indicator polymer chain attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) indicator molecules attached to the indicator polymer chain.

The present invention is generally in the field of measuring and indicating techniques and relates to a time-temperature indicator and methods of manufacturing and use thereof. More specifically, the time-temperature indicator comprises a time temperature indicator comprising at least one metal layer or metal containing layer and in direct contact to the metal layer or to the metal containing layer at least one doped polymer layer, wherein the dopant is an acid, a base or a salt or a photolatent acid or a photolatent base which dopant is added to the polymer, and/or at least one polymer layer wherein a polymer is functionalized with acidic or latent acidic or basic or latent basic groups; or a time temperature indicator comprising at least one polymer layer containing metal particles and a photolatent acid or a photolatent base, or at least one polymer layer containing metal particles wherein the polymer is functionalized with latent acidic or latent basic groups.

The present disclosure relates to a protective device for a sensor unit of an optochemical sensor for determining or monitoring at least one analyte present in a medium, including at least one protective substance for protecting the sensor unit against a physical and/or chemical alteration caused by at least one substance contained in the medium, and an at least partially media-permeable functional layer, where the protective device, in a region facing towards the medium, can be attached to the sensor unit or applied to the sensor unit. The present disclosure further relates to an optochemical sensor having a protective device according to the present disclosure.

The present invention relates to a chemo-optical sensor unit for transcutaneous measurement of a concentration of a gas, comprising: at least one gas-permeable sensing layer adapted to be irradiated with a predetermined radiation; and at least a first gas-permeable layer adjacent to one side of the at least one sensing layer, adapted to pass gas whose concentration is to be measured through the gas-permeable layer towards the sensing layer; at least one volatile acid and/or base binding layer in the gas-pathway from the skin to the sensing layer; adapted to pass gas whose concentration is to be measured through the volatile acid and/or base binding layer towards the sensing layer; wherein said chemo-optical sensor unit is adapted to operate with a contact medium between the chemo-optical sensor unit and the skin and wherein the chemo-optical sensor unit is adapted to measure an optical response of the at least one sensing layer, whose optical response depends on the concentration of the gas. The present invention also relates to a system for patient monitoring and/or ventilation of a patient comprising such a chemo-optical sensor.

An optical fiber comprising a layer of coating composition disposed on the exterior of a glass fiber. The layer of coating composition comprises plasmonic nanocrystals dispersed in a porous polymer such as one or a plurality of polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMS). The layer of coating composition may be a composite comprising polymer and functionalized plasmonic nanocrystals. A method of making the coated optic fiber is also described. The coated optic fiber can be used to make a sensor and measure an analyte by measuring light transmission through the fiber.

A sensor can include a nanostructure in a housing configured to contact a sample.

The present invention is generally in the field of measuring and indicating techniques and relates to a time-temperature indicator and methods of manufacturing and use thereof. More specifically, the time-temperature indicator comprises a time temperature indicator comprising at least one metal layer or metal containing layer and in direct contact to the metal layer or to the metal containing layer at least one doped polymer layer, wherein the dopant is an acid, a base or a salt or a photolatent acid or a photolatent base which dopant is added to the polymer, and/or at least one polymer layer wherein a polymer is functionalized with acidic or latent acidic or basic or latent basic groups; or a time temperature indicator comprising at least one polymer layer containing metal particles and a photolatent acid or a photolatent base, or at least one polymer layer containing metal particles wherein the polymer is functionalized with latent acidic or latent basic groups.

An sensor (2) based on an optical-sensing technique measures gaseous or dissolved analytes in a measurement medium (4). The sensor has a sensor housing (6) and an optochemical sensor element (20, 220) arranged within the sensor housing. The optochemical sensor element (220) has a substrate (222), a sensing layer (224) and a barrier layer (230). The barrier layer is arranged to protect the optochemical sensor element from interfering substances (234) present in the measurement medium.

An analyte indicator may include a porous base and may be included in an analyte sensor. The analyte indicator may retain its physical, chemical, and optical properties in the presence of compression. The porous base may not vary in opacity. The analyte indicator may include (i) a polymer unit attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) an analyte sensing element attached to the polymer unit or copolymerized with the polymer unit. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator molecule. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator polymer chains. The analyte indicator may include (i) an indicator polymer chain attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) indicator molecules attached to the indicator polymer chain.